Question

From lecture and the textbook, functionalist sociologists have argued that women were socialized to acquire qualities needed in the private sphere, whereas men were socialized to acquire qualities needed in the public sphere.

a) True
b) False

Answer 1

Functionalist sociologists claim that the gender roles, with women in the private sphere and men in the public sphere, are traditions established in pre-industrial societies and are true. These roles have been perpetuated due to their functional usefulness within society.

Step-by-step explanation:

It is true that functionalist sociologists have argued that women were socialized to acquire qualities needed in the private sphere, such as nurturing and caring for the family, whereas men were socialized to acquire qualities needed in the public sphere, such as competitiveness and leadership. Functionalist theorists suggest that these roles emerged from the essential needs of society during pre-industrial times and have been institutionalized over time. The separation of spheres of influence strengthened with the rise of industrial and agricultural societies, reinforcing the distinct roles of women and men, and these gender norms have been perpetuated throughout history.